Shrewsbury pickets campaign

Actor Ricky Tomlinson, writing on the Stronger Unions website, reports that in October 1973 six trade unionists appeared at Shrewsbury Crown Court and after a trial lasting 10 weeks three were sent to prison for conspiracy to intimidate, affray and unlawful assembly.

On appeal the convictions for affray were quashed but they still served sentences: Tomlinson got two years, Des Warren three years and John McKinsie Jones got nine months.

Their crime was to take strike action and organise picketing, just as the miners and dockers had done earlier in the year.

A campaign has been established to highlight this miscarriage of justice and to clear their names. The Shrewsbury 24 Campaign has carried out extensive research into the case and has discovered fresh evidence about the decision to prosecute them. It’s believed that there was political interference in bringing these charges and the campaign is asking the Criminal Cases Review Commission to refer the cases back to the Court of Appeal.

There is also a Downing Street e-petition which can be signed to put straight the miscarriage of justice of nearly 40 years ago.

www.shrewsbury24campaign.org.uk/